Our position on a proposed Under-16 Social Media Ban

There has been significant public debate over the last 12 months around the merits of a complete social media ban for under 16s, following Australia’s decision to introduce such a policy in late 2024. Over the past year, policymakers across the world have kept a close eye on Australia, with a view of introducing something similar in their own countries. Over the past month, the debate has intensified in the UK, including the Conservative Party adopting a similar proposal to the Australian legislation. 

Whilst FlippGen understands the concern around social media, we do not believe that outright bans are the way to address the issue. Outright bans treat young people, rather than the platforms, as the risk. At FlippGen, our guiding principle is “know tech, not no tech”. Rather than outright bans, the focus should be on education and safety by design. Education is integral to ensure that young people are empowered to form healthy relationships with technology. Safety by design puts the onus on tech companies to make social media platforms safer for young people.

On the surface, social media bans seem logical. If social media platforms are causing harm, then isn't the best way of eradicating the risk is by removing children from the platforms? However, I believe that this is a simple solution to a hugely complex issue. As a policy, it tackles the symptoms, rather than the root cause. By focussing solely on who can access social media, an Australian-style ban punishes young people for the failures of tech companies, and relieves the pressure on tech companies to make their platforms safer for young people. In this blog, I will explore the issues that surround such a policy, and put forward alternative solutions to this pressing issue.

Practical issues

There are questions to be answered around the implementation of such a policy in the United Kingdom. For example, what constitutes a ‘social media’ platform, and how far should the ban reach? The Australian policy does not extend to gaming or chatrooms, meaning young people are still exposed to many of the harms associated with social media. Furthermore, there is a danger that the risks and bad actors from social media will simply move to other online spaces. These online spaces are often less regulated than social media platforms. Therefore, young people could still face the same dangers they do on social media, but without the protections that are already in place on social media platforms. Similarly, young people may begin using social media without age-verified accounts, reducing the safeguards for young people that do already exist.

Benefits of social media

Whilst the benefits of an outright ban are unproven and doubtful, any social media ban will inevitably restrict children from accessing the benefits of social media. Social media can act as a lifeline for many young people, especially those in minority and marginalised communities. We live in a society built around social media and technology. Therefore, banning social media would restrict young people's ability to participate in many aspects of life and politics. Social media also offers young people a way to learn informally, from music, to the ability to critically think and evaluate. Safe access to social media helps young people develop these key life skills. Bans simply delay these experiences, and create a cliff edge for young people when they reach 16.

Safety By design

Instead of outright bans, the answer lies in safety by design. Safety by design reduces harm at the source, rather than relying on external factors to ensure that children stay safe on social media. Instead of removing access to social media, safety by design removes much of the risk. This allows the benefits of social media to be accessed whilst mitigating risks. It also puts the onus on the tech companies. Young people should be able to enjoy the benefits of social media without any fear. This is only possible if tech companies make their platforms safe from the outset. Whilst, in theory, bans prevent any young person accessing social media until they are 16, in practise this is impossible. Therefore, safety by design is the only way to ensure a guarantee of safety. When platforms are built with age-appropriate features, strong moderation, transparent algorithms and a prioritization of wellbeing and development, harm is automatically reduced. 

Rights-based system

As well as safety by design, the key to safer social media usage for young people is a shift towards a rights based system, underpinned by age-appropriate design and education. An effective rights based system protects children from harm, whilst equipping them with the skills to participate in a digital society. Young people have a right to be able to be safe online, but also a right to the benefits that social media can offer. A successful approach must centre around the voices of young people. They are the people who grew up in the digital age, surrounded by social media, and therefore, are experts through experience. Despite this, young people are rarely meaningfully consulted. For any policy to be effective in keeping young people safe online, consultation with the young people themselves is absolutely essential.

Education

As mentioned, a key pillar of a rights based approach is education. Education is also an essential protection against the harms presented by social media. It is inevitable that children will interact with online platforms, and every young person has a right to be equipped with the skills necessary to interact safely. Young people should be taught how platforms work, including algorithms, data collection, and addictive features. This way, they will be better equipped to recognise the risks; actively reducing harm, rather than relocating it. Education also recognises that social media does not disappear at 16. Delaying engagement with social media simply postpones the risk. Gradual-age appropriate education in safe environments ensures that young people develop healthy habits, which will serve them well throughout their life. 

At FlippGen, we see education as absolutely fundamental in helping young people form healthier relationships with technology and social media. As such, our campaign, For Us, is calling for comprehensive digital literacy education for all young people, as one of our three key proposals. Similarly, we have designed youth-informed Digital IntelliGenZ workshops. These workshops are designed to be delivered to young people in schools or other youth settings. They cover everything that we, GenZ, wish we knew before we were given access to smartphones, including social media. Unlike much of the digital literacy education currently available, the workshops are dynamic and up to date. Children are much more likely to be receptive to learning from other young people, and therefore, the workshops are designed to be delivered by Gen-Z students, ideally a few years older than the Gen-A students participating.

Conclusion

It is clear that doing nothing is not an option when it comes to social media. Social media poses a real threat, and young people must be protected. However, outright bans are not the way to do it. Outright bans of social media tackle the symptoms of the issue, not the root cause. Whilst the benefits of such bans are unproven, there are negative consequences that will inevitably result from the policy. Most importantly, any solution must be developed in conjunction with young people, who are, after all, experts of growing up with social media. 

FlippGen believes the answer lies in safety by design, and education. The best way to mitigate the risks of social media, whilst enhancing the positive aspects, is to embed protections within platforms, and to educate young people on the digital world, empowering them to form healthy relationships with social media. To finish, an analogy. If children were being targeted in a playground in real life, we would not simply respond by banning the children from the playground. We would remove the perpetrators. If children were getting injured on the playground equipment, we would redesign the playground so it was safer, and teach children how to use the equipment in a safe manner. The same theories should be applied to social media, and that is why we are campaigning for (1) tech built and designed for young people, and (2) a broad digital literacy education for all.

If you are a like-minded person or organisation and would like to support our youth-led campaign, please join the For Us coalition at www.ForUs.org.uk.